Open-bottom selling-cabinet.



H. A. AUSTIN. OPEN BOTTOM SELLING CABINET.

APPLICATION .FILED FEB. I5, 1913.

Patented Mar. 7

1119. /JIM/l an sitas rara rien.

HERBERT A. AUSTIN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIG-NOR TO AUSTIN-WALKERSALES COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

GEEN-BOTTOM'. SELLING-CABINET.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

Application filed February 15, 1913. Serial No. 748,714.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HERBERT AURELIUS AUSTIN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a'y resident of the city of Boston, county of Suffolk, andCommonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Open-Bottoni Selling- Cabinets, set forth in thefollowing specilication.

This invention relates to cabinets for dispensing articles such aselastic webbing, ribbon, tape and the like, packed in the form of apan-cake-like coil or reel` The object of the invention is to providemeans for displaying the product on sale in an attractive manner; toprotect the same against dust, soot and other causes of dainage; toprovide for the ready withdrawal of any desired quantity of thetape-like product to be sold;` and to make provision for Vreco'iling ortaking up ina convenient manner any surplus amount of the product whichmay have been drawn out inadvertently.l

A further object of thev invention is to produce a compact, simple,attractive and inexpensive cabinet suitable for containing anddispensing articles .of the class de scribed. i'

The objects of the invention will be apparent from the illustrativeembodiment described in the following specification and referred to forillustrative purposes in the accompanying claims, and which isGraphically shown in theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of thisapplicationvin which like characters designate corresponding parts, andin which,- Y

Figure 1 is a cross section looking in the direction of the arrowsthrough line l-I of Fig. 3; Fig. 2 is a cross section'looking in thedirection of the arrows through line II-II of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section in elevation through the cabinet; Fig. 4 is anenlarged detail section with parts broken away adjacent to the innerface of the inner right handwall as illustrated in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 isan enlarged detail view with parts brokenl away showing the hingedstructure. Y

End frames 1 and 2 of any suitable contour provided with supporting feet3 and 11 are spaced apart a suitable amount to ac-v commodate the numberof reels which the cabinet is intended to contain. Joined to these endframes are two inclined downwardly converging string pieces 5 kand Gwhich form an open bottomed cradle-like structure with the end frames 1and 2. Any suitable number of compartmentsV of predetermined width toaccommodate the size of reel 7 to lit therein are provided in thiscradle-likeA structure by cross partitions 8 between which are formedthe partitions 9. The upper edges of the frame pieces 1 and 2 and theupper edge of the string piece 5 are shown terminating in the same hori-Zontal plane, the vtop edge of the spring piece 5 and the top edges ofthe end frames 1 and 2 forming a support for the cover 10 which isformed preferably of suitable transparent material such as pressedglass. rFhe cover 10 is semi-cylindrical in contour and has integralvertical end closures 11 and 12, which end Vclosures are provided alongtheir lower edge with outwardly projecting lips 13 and 14 respectively.Metallic binding clips 15 and 16 are shown gripped about the lower edgesof the lips of the cover 10 in a manner to interlock with the innercylindrical wall of the cover. These clips provide convenient means ofattachment to the coverfor the upper leaf 17 of the hinges 19 and 20.The method of attachment to the clips may be soldering, brazing,riveting or the like. The bottom leaves 18 of the hinges 19 and 20 areattached to the respective end frames 1 and 2 in an obvious manner as byscrews. Hinged in a suitable manner as by the outturned end 21 astop-rod 22 is attached to the upper leaf 17 of each hinge and vpassesthrough a suitable opening 18 in each hinge. The lower end of eachstop-rod is provided with an odset or stop 23 which limits the Openingswing of the hinge to prevent the cover 10 being tilted out farther thanis desired. T he stop-rods 22 may be pocketed in suitable channels 25and 26 formed integrally in the end frames land 2.v The guide plate 27,preferably formed of sheet metal bent in thevform of a qua-rter cylin.der, is supported at the opposite longitudinal ends 29 and 30 of itslower edge upon the end frames 1 and 2 to which it may be secured. Inthe embodiment shown the sheet metal guide plate 27 is provided withvertical end plates 31 and 32 which bear along the lower edges on theend frames 1 and 2 respectively to complete the support of this guideplate. rIhe cylindrical surface of this guide plate is concentric withthat of the inne'r surface of the glass cover 10 and is slightly spacedapart therefrom.

The desired number of reels 7 of the tape.- lilre product to bedispensed are mounted within the compartments 9 in a suitable mannercapable of being revolved independently of one another as for example in*the manner illustrated. It is important however that a considerableextent of the bottom of each reel or coil be `exposed at Ithe bottomasshown graphically in Fig. 1,'so that the exposed portion maybevmanually engaged, thus providing vfor the ready rewinding of theelastic webbing or tape 33. rThis .tape is first passed .up over Vtheguide .plate 27 .by which it is held close to the inner surface of thertransparent glass cover l0. In this manner .any 'distorting qualitiesof the glass .is minimized and a glass of a semi-translucent characterLis found to be suitable when, if the tape were maintained at a greaterdistance Vfrom fits inner surface, the samewouldnot be visible. Afterpassing` over the guide plate QTfthe tape passes out beneath'the edgealoffthe cover' l0 and overthe edge 85 of thestring piece 6, which isdownwardly spacedasu'iiicient amount to provide an easy exit slot forthe tape. This is unlike-the,corresponding upper edgeof the oppositelstring piece 5 Vwhich is horizontal in the embodiment illustrated andmaybe provided 'with .a scale or suitable identifying :marks l'for theproduct contained within the cabinet.

Especial attention is directed .to 'the simpleand efective manner inwhich'provision is made vfor the regulating-of any surplus tape whichmay have been drawn out from thecabinet. The provision of the openybottom illustrated makes -it unnecessary to open the protecting cover10 except in "the event of refilling the cabinet. Also attention isparticularly called `to the 'guide plate 27 which maintains thevtape-like article -being` dispensed ata uniform distance in closeproximity to the inner 'face of 'the 'transparent protecting cover 10 atthe side usually presented to the customer. A cabinet of-the embodimentillustrated isintended to be placed upon a counter in fu'll view of thecustomer who can select a size or color of article desired withoutAhandling ythe same and the salesman'needs merely to draw outasufiicien't length to satisfythe demands of the customer. Any surplusamount maybe recoiled "by frictional manual 'engagement with the bottomof the coil through the opening provided. This feature -in combinationwith the means providing for 'the withdrawing ofthe elastic merely bvpulling out an exposed end and causing lkthe reel of elastic to revolveand runwind :is of prime importance.

Although I have shown one specific embodimentnof my invention which ispreferred, it 1sy tobeunderstood that it isvby Ino* means necessary thatthe protecting cover invention. -Theornamental design embodyingessentially a semicylindrical transparent cover I claim in myco-'pending application for design `patent iiled on even date herewith.

llhat is claimed vand what is desired to be secured by United `StatesLetters Pat ent is l. vIn a dispensing cabinet forvreeled fabric, -acradle with downwardly converging sides open at the bottom and adaptedto receive a. .plurality of revoluble reels of narrow'fabrie; supportinglegs for said cradle for sustaining it a limited distance above a.supporting surface and maintaining` said reels readily manuallyaccessible throughout a. limited portion at their bottom edges lso as topermit manual engagement with rthe reels for lwinding up unwound fabric,an openable and closable cover for said cradle to Ppermit the entranceof said reels and to protect said reels and lhaving a transparent wallto display said fabric; and Said par s providing a guiding exitslot foreach strip of fabric.

2. In a dispensing cabinet for reeled lfabric,^a cradle forrevolublysupporting'one or inorereels; `a cover forsaidcradle providinga wiew of the interior by transparency; a guide under and parallel to atransparent portion of said cover for holding said fabric close to saidcover independently of the amount unwound 'from said reel 'andprovisions forthe Vexit of each fabric end, whereby apull onsai'd fabricend will unwind the desired fabric.

.In a dispensingcabinet for reeled fabric, imeans for revolublysupporting one or more `reels of narrow fabric in parallel planes;acomplete inclosure for said reels except a limited exposed portion atthe lbottom of keach to be left `downwardly exposed forready rewinding;a part of said `inclosure being 4'a cylindrical transparent wall Igivinga view of the reeled fabric; and a cylindrical `guide wall for fabric,underlying and co-'axial lwith a portion of ksaid cylindricaltransparent wall for holding a. portion of said fabric under and closeto said transp arent wall.

4. In a dispensing cabinet for reeled fabric, a cradle provided with apair of bottom pieces sloping` toward each other and spaced apart; aplurality of reels Ydisposed si de by `side `and revolubl-y mountedbetween said bottom pieces and 'extending downwardly therebetween; andmeans for supporting said cradle at a limited distance above a surfaceupon Which the Weight of the dispensing cabinet rests.

5. In a dispensing cabinet for reeled fabrics, a cradle for supporting aplurality of reels; a guard of sheet material having an arcuate form incross section and journaled at one of its edges adjacent one side ofsaid cradle, the radius of curvature of said guard being slightlygreater than the radius of curvature of said reels, so that fabrics maybe unwound from said reels and passed across the outer surface of saidguard; and a covering' member having a transparent portion of arcuateform for covering said cradle and said reels and said guard.

6. In a dispensing cabinet Jfor reeled fabrics, a cradle for supportinga number of revoluble reels; a guard having-an arcuate Copies of thispatent may be obtained for form in cross section, said guard beingjournaled adjacent one side of said cradle and spaced slightly from saidside Where thus journaled, so that fabrics unWound from said reels maypass freely between said cradle and thence across the outer surface ofsaid guard; and a cover hinged to said cradle and having a transparentportion of arcuate cross section for protecting and displaying saidreels and the fabricsl carried thereby.

In Witness whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

Y HERBERT A. AUSTIN. Witnesses:

WVM. J. SCHWEIGER,

LEONARD DAY.

five cents each, by addressing lche Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. C.

